Process of treating oils



other uses for which residuum is Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

v UNITED STATES 1,683,767 PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV EGLOIF, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROCESS OI TREATING OILS.

No Drawing. Application filed March 24, 1924, Serial No. 701,585. Renewed February 20, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in process of treating oils and refers more particularly to the treatment of heavy 0115', such as petroleum residues, in which are sus- 5 pended solids, such as coke-like partlcles.

In the distillation and cracking of certain kinds of hydrocarbon oils, the residuum produced thereby is of such a character that it cannot be utilized for fuel oil, or for many usually used.[

This is' due to the fact that there is suspended in the residue more or less cokeforming particles which ordinarily Wlll not 5 settle in storage. When used as fuel oil, the residue in which these substantially solid particles are suspended, clo s up the feed lines, nozzles, etc. "In addition, when it is desired to retreat this residue, the suspended 0 coke-forming particles precipitate in the pipe lines enroute to the apparatus, whlch is objectionable.

To overcome the many objections and dif- F ficulties attendant upon the use of oil of this 5 character, I have conceived the idea of treating such residue before reuse, to remove substantially all of these objectionable cokeforming solid and semi-solid particles.

The residue, which may be continuously 0 withdrawn from a concurrent distilling or cracking operation, ma be cooled so that the temperature is su stantially lowered. In other words, the temperature is decreased to the point where no substantial vaporization takes place. The residue instead of being withdrawn from a concurrent operation, maybe withdrawn from anysource of supply, such as residue storage.

This residue-may be subjected to a centrifugal action roduced by any means such as in the stan ard'type of centrifuge ma chine, into which the oil may be continuously introduced. The liquid level may be maintained at any height consistent with the operation, and the freed oil may be continuousl withdrawn from any suitable point. e centrifugal action will cause the suspended coke-like particles to be flung outwardly toward the sides of the apparatus, D breaking up the suspension. These particles will gradually fall to the bottom where they build up, and as a body are finally -withdrawn.

In practice, it is desirable to provide a i number of interchangeable apparatuses for imparting the centrifugal action, in order that one may be cut out when a body of solid particles has been built up, and a new one cut into operation.

In treating residue from a cracking operation maintained under a superatmospheric pressure, the centrifugal action may be car ried out under the system pressure or not, as desired.

The residue may be of such viscosity that when its temperature is decreased as explained heretofore, it will tend to clog the system. To prevent this, I may add a solvent such as lighter oils, distillates,= or any other suitable solvent, to the residue, in its passage to the point where it is to be subected to the centrifugal action. The addition of this solvent will also assist in the breaking up of the suspension.

its withdrawn from the apparatus, the residue is at a temperature of about 600 F. which is preferably decreased to below 200 The original distillation may be carried out under atmospheric pressure and the centrifugal action carried out under the same condition. The process contemplates the treatment of residues ranging from 8 to 24 Baum gravity.

I have described a continuous operation.

It is clear that the invention may be carried out as a batch process with the same beneficial results, the essence of the invention being the subjection of an oil in which are suspended solids or coke forming. particles to centrifugal action to break the suspension and cause the coke formingparticl'es to be precipitated, and if necessary or desirable, adding a solvent of lower boiling point to reduce the viscosity and assist in breaking the suspension.

I have illustrated one manner of decreasing the viscosity by the introduction of a solvent. It must be clear that I may add steam or other analogous substances to accomplish similar results.

.I claim as my invention:

1. A process for treating residual hydrocarbon oil containing coke-like particles formed during a cracking reaction in suspension, to separate from the oil such cokelike particles as will not normally precipitate from the oil when maintained in a quiescent state, consisting in subjecting residual hydrocarbon oil withdrawn from a concurrent cracking operation to centrifugal action,

causing the suspension to be broken and the from the oil when maintained in a quiescent coke-forming articles to be precipitated; in state, comprising subjecting residual hydrol reducing the viscosity of the residual hydrocarbon oil withdrawn from a concurrent carbon oil before treatment by mixing with cracking operation to centrifugal action,

the same a hydrocarbon of lower boiling causing the suspenslonto be brokexrand the point, and in maintaining the tem erature coke-forming particles to be precipitated, of the residual hydrocarbon oil un ergoing reducing the viscosity of the residual hydro- 20 treatment below 200 F. carbon oil before treatment by mixing with 2. A process for treating residual hydrothe same a substance characterized by its 10 carbon oil containin coke-like particles ability to efiect a decrease in the viscosity of formed during a crac ring reaction in susthe residual oil. pension, to separate from the oil such cokelike particles as will not normally precipitate GUSTAV EGLOFF. 

